New York Writers To Honor Bagwell

NEW YORK — Jeff Bagwell will be in elite company tonight at the New York Baseball Writers' Awards Dinner at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

Bagwell,the Astros' first baseman from Killingworth, will be honored with the Sid Mercer Award as player of the year. He will share the dais with Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider.

``Willie, Mickey and the Duke'' will be serenaded by Terry Cashman and receive the first award in their name, honoring great players linked in history. Mays of the Giants, Mantle of the Yankees and Snider of the Dodgers played center field in New York in the 1950s.

Richie Ashburn, another center fielder of that era, will receive the Casey Stengel ``You Can Look It Up'' Award for winning two batting titles with the Phillies in the 1950s.

The writers also will pay tribute to several broadcasting legends. The Yankees' Phil Rizzuto and the Mets' Bob Murphy are co-recipients of the Joe DiMaggio ``Toast of the Town'' Award. Vin Scully, the New Yorker who began broadcasting Dodgers games in 1950, will receive the William J. Slocum Award for long and meritorious service. Joe Garagiola will receive the Joan Payson Award for community service for his efforts on behalf of Baseball Assistance Team, which raises money for indigent former players and their families.

Others to be honored include American League MVP Frank Thomas of the White Sox, Cy Young Award winners David Cone of the Royals and Greg Maddux of the Braves, rookies of the year Bob Hamelin of the Royals and Raul Mondesi of the Dodgers, managers of the year Buck Showalter of the Yankees and Felipe Alou of the Expos, and Rolaids Fireman of the Year Lee Smith of the Orioles. Mike Schmidt and Yogi Berra are among the presenters.

Tickets, at $100 each, are available from Jack Lang at (212) 581- 1000.